Tension-type headaches – NHS

A tension-type headache is the most common type of headache and the one we think of as a normal everyday headache.

Symptoms of tension-type headaches

It may feel like a constant ache that affects both sides of the head. You may also feel the neck muscles tighten and a feeling of pressure behind the eyes.

A tension headache normally is not severe enough to prevent you doing everyday activities.

It usually lasts for 30 minutes to several hours, but can last for several days.

Who gets tension-type headaches?

Most people are likely to have had a tension-type headache at some point.

They can develop at any age, but are more common in teenagers and adults.

Women tend to have them more often than men.

Some adults have tension-type headaches more than 15 times a month for at least 3 months in a row.

This is known as having chronic tension-type headaches.

When to get medical help

There’s usually no need to see a GP if you only get occasional headaches.

But see a GP if you get headaches several times a week or they’re severe.

They’ll ask questions about your headaches, family history, diet and lifestyle to help diagnose the type of headache you have.

You should get immediate medical advice for headaches that:

• come on suddenly and are unlike anything you have had before
• are accompanied by a very stiff neck, fever, nausea, vomiting and confusion
• follow an accident, especially if it involved a blow to your head
• are accompanied by weakness, numbness, slurred speech or confusion

These symptoms suggest there could be a more serious problem, which may require further investigation and emergency treatment.

What causes tension-type headaches?

The exact cause of tension-type headaches is not clear, but certain things have been known to trigger them.

These include:

• stress and anxiety
• squinting
• poor posture
• tiredness
• dehydration
• missing meals
• lack of physical activity
• bright sunlight
• noise
• certain smells

Tension-type headaches are known as primary headaches, which means they’re not caused by an underlying condition. 

Other primary headaches include cluster headaches and migraines.

Treating tension-type headaches

Tension-type headaches are not life threatening and are usually relieved by painkillers or lifestyle changes.

Lifestyle changes

Relaxation techniques can often help with stress-related headaches.

This may include:

• yoga
• massage
• exercise
• applying a cool flannel to your forehead or a warm flannel to the back of your neck

Painkillers

Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used to help relieve pain. Aspirin may also sometimes be recommended.

If you’re taking these medicines, you should always follow the instructions on the packet.

Paracetamol is usually the best choice if you’re pregnant. Do not take ibuprofen during pregnancy without speaking to a GP, midwife or pharmacist first.

Children under 16 should not be given aspirin.

Medicine should not be taken for more than a few days at a time.

Medicines containing codeine, such as co-codamol, should be avoided unless recommended by a GP.

Painkiller headaches

Taking painkillers over a long period (usually 10 days or more) may lead to medicine-overuse headaches developing.

Your body can get used to the medicine and a headache can develop if you stop taking them. 

If a GP suspects your headache is caused by the persistent use of medicines, they may ask you to stop taking it.

But you should not stop taking your medicine without first consulting a GP.

Preventing tension-type headaches

If you experience frequent tension-type headaches, you may wish to keep a diary to try to identify what could be triggering them.

It may then be possible to alter your diet or lifestyle to prevent them occurring as often.

Regular exercise and relaxation are also important measures to help reduce stress and tension that may be causing headaches.

Maintaining good posture and ensuring you’re well rested and hydrated can also help.

Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) state that a course of up to 10 sessions of acupuncture over a 5- to 8-week period may be beneficial in preventing chronic tension-type headaches.

In some cases, an antidepressant medication called amitriptyline may be prescribed to help prevent chronic tension-type headaches, although there’s limited evidence of its effectiveness.

This medicine does not treat a headache instantly, but must be taken daily for several months until the headaches lessen.

Page last reviewed: 16 July 2018
Next review due: 16 July 2021

Patient’s Guide to Visual Migraine

A visual migraine is a temporary visual distortion that often begins with a small sparkling, shimmering area that slowly expands outward. The growing spot often has jagged, zig-zag edges. The visual symptoms typically last approximately 20-30 minutes and then completely resolve. The area where vision is disrupted is known as a ‘scotoma’ and the whole episode is often referred to as an ‘aura.’

In a typical migraine, a throbbing headache quickly follows the visual symptoms. The headache lasts several hours and is accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. The intensity of the headache may range from mild to severe.

What are the ‘red flags’ that my visual symptoms are not due to migraine?

The typical symptoms of a visual migraine are “positive,” meaning that there is something shimmering or sparkling that is disrupting the vision. Migraines are less likely to cause “negative” symptoms of pure visual darkness. An episode of visual darkness typically requires additional evaluation for other conditions, including a “mini-stroke” (a TIA, or transient ischemic attack).

Can I have a visual migraine without a headache?

Definitely. It is actually very common to have a visual migraine without any headache. The medical term for this is “acephalgic migraine,” which literally means migraine symptoms without headache. Except for the absence of a headache, the visual symptoms in acephalgic migraine are identical to the episodes that accompany a classic migraine aura.

What causes a migraine?

Although migraines are extremely common, their exact cause remains unknown. It appears likely that the visual aura relates to a phenomenon called “cortical spreading depression” which temporarily affects electrical impulses in the brain. The pain of a migraine headache probably relates to spasm or irritability of blood vessels in the brain, which are sensitive to pain (unlike the brain tissue itself, which does not have pain receptors). Beyond these hypotheses, however, the exact mechanism that triggers a migraine remains unknown.

It is often possible to identify certain risk factors that increase the chance of having migraines. A positive family history is very common, so the doctor will often ask about headaches in one’s parents or siblings. Overall, migraines are more common in women than in men. In addition, a person’s hormonal status can affect the pattern of migraines they experience; therefore, it is natural for a woman to notice a change in headaches and other migraine symptoms in adolescence or around the time of menopause.

Many individuals can identify specific triggers for their migraines. These triggers include fatigue, skipping a meal, caffeine withdrawal, stress, and certain foods (including red wine, chocolate, or aged cheese). For many patients with isolated visual migraines, however, the events can be very infrequent and no definite trigger can be determined.

What are the acute treatments for migraine?

An isolated visual migraine, without headache, typically does not require any acute treatment, since the visual symptoms resolve on their own fairly quickly. The first few times someone experiences a visual migraine it usually causes a lot of anxiety. Once someone has become familiar with the symptoms of a visual migraine, new episodes no longer cause the same level of anxiety.

It can be helpful to try to rest during the episode. Some patients benefit from other strategies, including eating something, having caffeine, or taking an over-the-counter medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (i.e., Advil® or Motrin®).

Patients in whom the visual symptoms are accompanied by a severe headache often benefit from additional therapies. The goal of these medications is to try to cut short (or “abort”) the headache before it becomes too severe. Some patients find naproxen (i.e., Aleve®), which is a stronger anti-inflammatory medication, to be helpful. Other patients try a class of medications known as “triptans.”

Triptans are specially designed to work on receptors on blood vessels and brain cells in order to halt a migraine at an early stage. Although there are a number of different triptans, made by several different pharmaceutical companies, each of these is approximately equally effective. Triptans are often taken orally, but also come as injections and nasal sprays. These medicines are generally not considered safe in patients with a history of strokes, heart attacks, or other vascular diseases.

What are the preventive treatments for migraine?

Many patients with isolated visual migraines, without severe headaches, have relatively infrequent episodes that do not require specific preventive treatments. If a patient is aware of the particular triggers that seem to bring on an episode, then those triggers can be avoided.

In patients where the pattern of migraines includes frequent, severe headaches, it is very reasonable to consider additional preventive treatments. The main goal for any of these strategies is to reduce the overall frequency and severity of the headaches. None of the preventive treatments is a “magic bullet” that is 100% effective. For example, it would be considered successful if a preventive treatment helped reduce the number of severe headaches from 8 per month to 2-4 per month.

There are numerous medications that can be used as a preventive treatment for migraine. One medication that is used commonly, particularly because it has no side effects, is vitamin B2 (riboflavin). Approximately 100mg of riboflavin daily is thought to improve migraine headaches (higher doses have been studied in trials but it isn’t clear that the body actually absorbs those high doses). One common side effect of riboflavin is that the urine turns bright yellow. Other herbal medications used to reduce migraine headaches include petasites (butterbur) and feverfew.

The other medications used as preventive treatments frequently cause side effects, but starting with a low dose and then increasing very slowly is usually a helpful strategy. Some commonly tried medications include amitryptiline, gabapentin, and topiramate. Less commonly, medications such as propranolol or valproic acid are used. For some patients, botulinum injections (in the forehead and scalp) can help reduce headaches.

How can I treat migraines without using medicines?

It is very important to remember that many of the most effective preventive treatments for migraines do not require any medications. Frequent aerobic exercise is an excellent example of an effective way to improve headaches. Other strategies may include better sleep habits, stress reduction, massage, yoga, and acupuncture.

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How Can I Get Rid of My Headache Quickly?

Who has time for a headache, especially when you’re at work or trying to enjoy time with the family? If a headache comes on, you want to know how to get rid of it. ..fast! Luckily, with a little planning and some of our great tips, you will be ready to handle most headaches quickly:

Drink water.

Oftentimes, a headache is the first sign of dehydration. Maybe you’ve had too much caffeine or had too much alcohol the night before. If you work outside in the heat or have been so busy you haven’t taken time to drink water throughout the day, dehydration may be what’s causing your headache. The body needs water to function properly and is constantly losing water through breath, sweat and urination. It’s up to us to replenish our fluid supply each day. If you feel a headache developing, drink a glass or two of water and see if the pain goes away.

Take off your hat or loosen your ponytail.

Sometimes we cause our own headaches without even realizing it. Wearing a hat that’s too tight or having hair pulled back tightly can cause headache pain. Headache relief can often come from simply removing the hat or loosening the hairstyle. Take a few moments to relax and massage pain points on your head before you get back to work.

Switch to different lighting.

Light that’s too dim, too bright or flickering can give you a headache. If you’re inside and can move away from fluorescent lighting or move to a better lit area with natural lighting, that’s ideal. If you’re outside in the sun, sometimes the consistent brightness of the sun can cause a headache and heat can make that worse. Go find some shade or go inside for a little while and see if that does the trick. Then, go back outside with sunglasses on and try to work in a more sheltered area, if possible. If you’re working on a computer in a dark room or trying to read in dim lighting, turn on another light or move to an area that is brighter. Sometimes we don’t even realize we need more light until we find ourselves squinting and moving closer to what we are trying to read and feel the very beginnings of headache pain coming on.

Find a quiet place and breathe.

Stress and tension can cause headaches too. Luckily, we carry a solution with us everywhere we go—our breath. If you feel tense and think your headache might be caused by stress, find a quiet place—it can be outside under a tree, in your car in a parking lot, in a room with no one else in it, or simply at your desk, if it’s quiet enough. Find a comfortable position to sit in and focus on relaxing with each breath. Breathe slowly, deeply and in a consistent rhythm in a way you find comfortable and relaxing. Taking breaks like this throughout the day can help prevent headaches too.

Choose a powder pain reliever.

You can see from the tips above that you don’t always have to take medicine for a headache, but when you do, BCÒ Powder is here for you. One of the things you may not realize is the reason so many families have used BCÒ Powder for generations is that it was designed for quick pain relief. Our powder formula is absorbed quickly—just pour powder on the back of your tongue and, as it dissolves, drink some water to chase it down. Get fast-acting pain relief by taking BC® Original or BC® Cherry as directed. They come in convenient, on-the-go, sealed stick packs you can keep handy at your workstation or in your pocket, purse, backpack or briefcase for whenever you need headache relief.

Since a severe headache can be serious, be sure to seek immediate medical attention if you feel sudden, intense headache pain that you have never felt before.

7 Tips for Relieving Headaches Caused by Neck Pain

By Mark Wang, MD

You know the signs of a headache, such as a dull ache or a feeling of tightness creeping up your neck and across your forehead. Headaches are among the most commonly occurring ailments in the world. More than half of all women report having tension headaches at some point, and one-third of all men report the same. In the U.S., 20% of women and 10% of men said they had a severe headache at some point in the past three months. Multiple factors can trigger a headache, depending on the type. In some cases, a headache is due to neck pain.

Learn more about the connection between pain in the neck and headaches below and what to do for headaches caused by neck pain.

Why Does My Neck Pain Cause Headaches?

Understanding how these issues are connected makes it easier to see how to help headaches from neck pain. Your neck and head are closely related, so it should be no surprise that a pain in the neck can also cause a headache. The connection between the two depends largely on the cause of your neck pain and the type of headaches you experience.

What Causes Neck Pain?

The neck is also called the cervical spine. It’s made up of seven bones responsible for supporting the head and allowing nerves to travel from the spine to the brain. When any part of the neck is injured or strained, pain can occur. Some common causes of neck pain include:

• Your car: How you drive can contribute to neck pain. The way you sit in the driver’s seat should make it easy for you to hold your spine straight without leaning forward or craning your neck. If the seat is too far back or too low, you’re likely to lean forward and put stress on the neck. Driving for long periods can also cause eye strain, which can lead to discomfort in the neck.
• Your phone: If you’re always checking your phone, you might have noticed soreness in the neck. Looking at your phone with your head dropped and your shoulders stooped affects your neck’s curve, potentially leading to problems. When you’re stooped forward, there’s more weight and pressure on the neck, which can lead to muscle strain.
• Your work style: Sitting in front of a computer or at a desk all day is known to contribute to spinal problems, including neck pain. If your computer monitor is too low or too high, you have to strain your neck to clearly see the screen, putting more pressure on your neck.

• Your posture: While some people seem to have perfect posture, many slouch or slump when they are standing or sitting. When you’re relaxing or walking, poor posture can put extra stress on your neck, leading to pain.
• Your sleeping position: It’s essential to properly support the head and neck while you sleep. Some types of sleepers, notably stomach sleepers, put a lot of strain on the spine as they turn the neck to one side while sleeping and arch their backs.
• Your past injuries: Trauma, such as a car accident or another type of injury to the neck, can cause lingering pain. For example, whiplash occurs when the neck is jerked forward and backward suddenly. It often causes neck pain and stiffness.

How Headaches and Neck Pain Are Related

If you are wondering why your neck pain is giving you headaches, there are several reasons. Neck pain is often associated with several different types of headaches. In some cases, pain in the neck is causing headaches. In others, muscles located at the base of the skull and the top of the neck contribute to headache pain. Additionally, neck pain can occasionally be a symptom of certain types of headaches.

Types of Headaches Caused by Neck Pain

Knowing how to treat headaches caused by neck pain is easier if you understand the types of issues neck discomfort can cause. A headache due to neck pain might be one of the following:

Cervicogenic Headache

A cervicogenic headache is an example of referred pain. It’s a pain in the neck that you feel in your head. People often develop cervicogenic headaches after an injury that causes whiplash or as a result of a pinched nerve in the neck. Arthritis, neck sprains or a neck fracture can also lead to cervicogenic headaches. Sleep position and your posture at work might also trigger this type of headache.

The signs of a cervicogenic headache are somewhat different from other types of headaches. Often, you’ll feel pain on one side of the head. The pain might start at the bottom of your skull and feel as if it is traveling up one side of the head. Your neck might feel stiff, too, and you might have discomfort when you turn your neck from one side or the other. Some people also have pain around one eye or pain when they cough or sneeze.

Without treatment, cervicogenic headaches can occur frequently and cause severe enough pain to be debilitating. If you have signs of a cervicogenic headache, speaking with an orthopedic surgeon can help you pinpoint the cause of the pain and determine the best way to treat it.

Occipital Neuralgia

A pinched nerve in the neck can trigger pain in the head known as occipital neuralgia. An injury to the neck, tightness in the muscles or a condition like arthritis can cause a pinched nerve. When someone has occipital neuralgia, pain shoots through the occipital nerve. The pain can feel similar to that of an electric shock. People often describe it as stabbing and sharp.

Other symptoms of occipital neuralgia include pain at the base of the skull, pain with neck movement and pain behind one of the eyes. It can also make the scalp very sensitive. Some people experience enough sensitivity that it is difficult to put their head down on a pillow.

Occipital neuralgia is relatively rare. Since it shares some symptoms in common with migraine headaches, the two can be confused.

If you’re experiencing shooting pains across your scalp or skull, speaking with a doctor about your symptoms and your past medical history can help you get an accurate diagnosis and begin a treatment plan.

Types of Headaches That Can Cause Neck Pain

While in some cases, pain in the neck causes headaches, in others, headaches can cause neck pain. Some types of headaches that are also associated with neck pain include:

Tension Headaches

A tension headache is the most common. When someone has a tension headache, they may feel like a band is squeezing around their forehead, putting pressure on the head. The pain is usually all over the head, not just one side or the other. Some people also feel pain in the back of the neck and their shoulders when they have a tension headache. But tension headaches don’t exactly come from neck pain.

While the exact cause of tension headaches isn’t known, they seem connected to stress. People with high stress levels often report having tension headaches. Poor posture and repetitive movements can also contribute to tension headaches. The suboccipital muscles, found in the neck, often become inflamed and tender when someone has a tension headache.

There are two types of tension headaches. Episodic headaches often develop as a result of stress. Once the stressful situation is over, the headache usually eases up. Chronic headaches frequently occur, sometimes on a daily basis.

Migraines

Migraines are another common headache type, affecting around 12% of people in the U.S. While the pain from a tension headache is often dull, migraines typically cause throbbing pain. The pain is usually located on one side of the head and might be in the neck, too. For a while, it wasn’t clear if neck pain triggered migraines or if it was a symptom of a migraine. One study suggested that neck pain was a symptom of the headache and not a cause of the headache itself.

Tips to Relieve Headaches From Neck Pain

After you’ve figured out the cause of your neck pain and headaches, there are things you can do at home to help ease the pain and start to feel better. Here’s how to relieve headaches caused by neck pain:

1. Improve Workplace Ergonomics

Adjusting how you work is good for preventing headaches caused by pain in the neck. How you sit at work can put strain and pressure on your neck. If possible, adjust the height of your monitor so you are looking directly at it rather than up or down.

If you sit, choose a chair that is the appropriate height for you. Your feet should rest flat on the floor when you sit, and your knees should be a few inches from the edge of the chair. If you have to look down at paperwork while on the job, consider getting a stand to hold the documents at eye level so you aren’t constantly bending your neck.

2. Improve Your Posture

Your posture has a significant effect on how your neck feels. If you regularly slouch, you put a lot of extra weight on the head and neck, leading to pain and discomfort.

The first step toward improving your posture is becoming aware of it. When you stand, notice the angle of your back, neck and shoulders. Try to stand up as tall and straight as possible. That means pulling in your stomach and pushing your shoulders back slightly. Your head should be level as if you are balancing a book on it.

Good posture is also critical when you sit, whether you’re at a desk, a table or watching TV. When you sit, make sure there is something behind your back to support and keep you from slumping forward.

3. Improve Your Sleep

Improving your sleep can mean changing your sleep position and making sure you’re getting enough sleep. You want to support the head and neck as you sleep. Often, that means laying on your back or side, using a pillow that provides enough support to keep the head level. If your head dips down while you’re sleeping, you’re likely to wake up with a pain in the neck.

Not getting enough sleep can make you more stressed and lead to chronic headaches. One way to make sure you’re getting enough sleep is to create a schedule for yourself. Commit to going to bed and getting up at the same time each day. Try to do something relaxing before you turn in so your body gets the message it’s time to sleep.

4. Exercise More

Increasing the amount of physical activity you get can help reduce neck pain and lessen your headaches. Some types of exercise are better for headache relief than others. Choose low-impact activities that focus on calming the body, such as yoga or gentle stretching. A light cardio routine, such as taking a walk, can also help ease headache pain. Going for a walk also lets you enjoy nature and the sunlight, reducing your stress levels, further helping relieve your headache pain.

5. Schedule a Massage

A massage can help relax the neck area muscles that might contribute to your headache pain. How massage helps ease muscle strain and tension depends on the type you choose. It’s a good idea to research before scheduling a massage to ensure the therapist has experience working with people who have head and neck pain.

If you don’t want to book an appointment with a massage therapist, you can try to ease tension in the neck muscles yourself by gently rubbing them. Applying firm but gentle pressure to the area can also help ease the pain.

6. Manage Your Stress

If you have chronic headaches caused by neck pain and high levels of stress in your life, finding ways to lower your stress levels can help improve your pain over time. Practicing relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, massage and exercise, can help calm you down and ease your stress levels. Along with finding ways to relax, it’s also important to make room in your schedule for things you enjoy doing.

Finding room in your schedule can mean cutting back on certain other activities. If you are overburdened at work, you might need to set more boundaries, such as only answering emails and phone calls during business hours. If possible, outsource certain tasks, both at work and home. For example, have your kids wash the dishes after dinner or your partner take out the trash each week. Ask an administrative assistant to take over scheduling meetings for you.

Journaling and creating to-do lists can also help alleviate your stress and ease your neck and headache pain. When you journal, you can focus on writing about the things you’re thankful for or record your thoughts and feelings from the day. A to-do list lets you see what you need to accomplish and gives you an idea of what you can delegate or eliminate.

7. Try Heat and Cold

Whether heat or cold will help ease a headache due to neck pain depends on the type of headache. For a migraine, try applying a cold compress or ice pack to your head to get relief. Apply the compress for 15 minutes, then take a 15-minute break and repeat. If you have a tension headache and neck pain, try putting a warm cloth or heating pad on the area where you feel pain.

Schedule an Appointment for Your Neck Pain With DISC

If you have neck pain and headaches, figuring out what is causing the pain can help you get relief. At DISC, our team of specialists at practices throughout the greater Phoenix, Arizona, area can diagnose your condition. We can then offer you relief tips for headaches caused by neck pain.

We always recommend the least invasive options first. You might see improvement with conservative solutions like heat and cold, relaxation techniques or medication. If your neck pain and headaches continue, surgery might be the best option to help you get the relief you want. To learn more, contact DISC today to schedule an appointment.

Headache – Managing Side Effects

Chemocare. com

Care During Chemotherapy and Beyond

What Is A Headache?

Headache, pain in the head, can have many causes.  The most common causes of
headache are tension and sinusitis.  Other headache causes include; migraines,
cluster headaches and eye problems.  Some chemotherapy or biologic therapies
may also cause a headache.   For example: headache can be part of
the flu-like syndrome associated with various biologic therapies.  It also
can occur because of the irritation to the lining of the brain and spinal column
when chemotherapies are given intrathecally (directly into the spinal fluid).

Because a headache can also be caused from more serious complications such as bleeding,
meningitis, or high blood pressure other disorders may need to be ruled out when
it is unclear why a headache is present.

A tension headache is usually described as a band-like pain around
the head, which may be more severe at front or back of head, with no other symptoms. A
tension headache usually lasts no more than 3-4 hours, although may have some
discomfort for days.

A sinus headache is usually described as a pain in forehead or
cheeks, made worse by coughing or bending down. Often a sinus headache includes
nasal discharge and blockage. The sense of smell and taste may be reduced. Commonly
occurs 3-10 days after a cold.  A sinus headache usually clears within
3 weeks, even without antibiotics.

How To Manage Headache Symptoms:

• Rest in a quiet, dimly lit room.  Perhaps, relaxing music would help soothe
  your headache.
• Cool cloth on the forehead.
• A sinus headache may be helped by warmth and steam.
• A headache originating in the back of the head or neck may be related to muscle
  tension – heat and/or massage may help.
• Complementary therapies that have shown some benefit to those suffering from chronic
  headaches are; massage, acupressure and reflexology (massage limited to the feet
  or hands).  Discuss this with your health care professional as to whether this
  may be appropriate for your headache.

Drugs That May Be Recommended By Your Doctor:

• Analgesics such as acetaminophen. Do not take more than the recommended amount of
  acetaminophen in a 24 hour time frame.  No more than 4 grams (gm) of acetaminophen
  should be taken for headache treatment.  Higher doses may lead to toxicity
  to the liver.  Check the bottle for the milligram dose (mg) of each pill, 
  1000mg = 1gram.   If you are taking medications that have acetaminophen as one
  of the ingredients, this needs to be taken into account of the total dose for the
  day.  For example: Percocet^® and Darvocet^® each contain 325mg of acetaminophen per pill. 
  It is important to review all of the medications you are taking with your health
  care professional.
• If you have a bleeding disorder, you should avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
  (NSAID) drugs, as well as aspirin, because these drugs may interfere with blood
  platelets, and prolong bleeding.  Use of such drugs to treat headache should
  be discussed first with your healthcare professional.
• Over-the-counter decongestants: Usually containing pseudoephedrine. 
  If the headache is due to sinus irritation.

When to Contact Your Doctor or Health Care Provider:

• Headache follows a head injury.
• Severe headache, especially if it starts suddenly. 
• Other headache symptoms such as vomiting, visual disturbance, neck stiffness, drowsiness,
  confusion, made worse by coughing or lowering head, rash, weakness in an arm or
  leg, or numbness. 
• Headache not going away after three days.

Note: We strongly encourage you to talk with your health care professional
about your specific medical condition and treatments. The information contained
in this website about sinus headache, tension headache and other medical conditions
is meant to be helpful and educational, but is not a substitute for medical advice. 

Chemocare.com is designed to provide the latest information about chemotherapy to patients and their families, caregivers and friends. For information about the 4th Angel Mentoring Program visit www. 4thangel.org

Teenagers and Headaches – familydoctor.org

Path to Improved Health

There are various types of headaches. Tension headaches are the most common type experienced by teens. They are usually caused by stress, tension, or depression. They can also be caused by eye strain and neck or back strain from having poor posture. Tension headaches usually cause a mild to moderate ache or pressure in a “band” across the forehead. Your teen might have this kind of headache occasionally or chronically (more than 15 times a month).

Help your teen avoid tension headaches by following these tips:

• Relax. Find ways to work in free time in a busy schedule. Manage your stress from family, friends, work, or school.
• Eat a balanced diet. Skipping meals and not eating a nutritious diet can contribute to headaches.
• Get enough sleep. Unplug from electronics and go to bed at a decent time each night.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs. The effects of alcohol and drug use can cause headaches, as well as many other health problems.
• Exercise your body. Physical activity reduces stress and helps you sleep better. Your body releases endorphins during exercise. These are your body’s natural painkillers.
• Exercise your eyes. Eye strain causes headaches. As we spend more time staring at screens, it’s important to give your eyes a break. Look away from your screen at least every 20 minutes.
• Use heat or ice. Apply heat, such as a heating pad, or an ice pack (wrapped in a towel) to sore muscles. A hot bath or shower may also help.
• Watch your posture. Try to keep your back and shoulders straight when walking and sitting.

Tension headaches can usually be treated by taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers. These include ibuprofen (brand names: Advil, Motrin), acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol), and naproxen (brand name: Aleve). If these medicines don’t seem to help, talk to your family doctor about other options. There are pain relievers that combine caffeine or sedatives and even prescription medicines that might help.

Do not give aspirin for headache treatment to children under the age of 15. It can cause Reye’s syndrome, a rare disorder children can get when recovering from an illness.

Your teen may also experience other types of headaches.

• Acute headaches usually happen because of an illness, infection (such as sinusitis, or sinus infection), cold, or fever. But they can also be caused by tension. These headaches can cause sharp or throbbing pain in the head, neck, or face. They can be treated with OTC pain relievers and usually go away once the medical problem is treated or tension is relieved.
• Cluster headaches strike quickly and cause severe pain, usually around one eye but can spread across your face, head, neck, and shoulders. These happen in “cluster periods” that can last weeks or months. These types of headaches are rare and can be treated with medicine.
• Migraine headaches cause moderate to severe pain and throbbing in the front and both sides of the head. Your teen may also experience dizziness, blurred vision, fever, stomach upset, and even vomiting. He or she may be very sensitive to light, smells, and noise and want to sleep when experiencing a migraine.

Talk to your doctor about medicines and other treatment options for migraine headaches. Keep track of your teen’s migraine triggers, such as lack of sleep, certain foods, environmental changes, or stress. If you know what triggers them, you can help your teen try to avoid getting a migraine.

How do I know if my teen’s headaches are a sign of something more serious?

If your teen is experiencing severe symptoms such as sudden loss of balance, numbness, paralysis, speech difficulties, or seizures, seek medical attention right away. Call your family doctor; he or she may want you to go straight to the emergency room.

Most headaches are easily treatable and are not a sign of a more serious medical problem. Headaches may improve as your teen gets older. However, if your teen’s headaches are becoming more frequent, the pain and symptoms are getting worse, and/or pain medicines do not seem to be helping, it’s time to visit your family doctor.

He or she will ask about your teen’s health history and details about their headaches. Keep a detailed log to track their headache triggers, symptoms, frequency, and treatments. Your doctor will perform a physical exam. He or she will look for problems with your teen’s temperature, breathing, pulse, and blood pressure. If they suspect a central nervous system problem, they will order or perform a CT scan or MRI test to look for abnormal areas in the brain.

In rare occasions, chronic, progressive headaches can be a sign of a serious underlying medical problem in your teen. These conditions could include:

• Brain infections.
• Meningitis (inflammation of the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord).
• Hydrocephalus (abnormal fluid build-up on the brain).
• Blood clots.
• Tumors and abscesses.
• Head trauma.

Things to Consider

Headaches, especially migraines, can be hereditary. Children who have migraines usually have at least one parent who gets them, as well. They may inherit abnormalities in some areas of the brain. They may also inherit the tendency to be affected by migraine triggers such as bright lights and weather changes. It is important to tell your doctor if your teen has a family history of headaches or neurological disease.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• How do I know when my teen’s headaches are severe enough to need further testing?
• How long should I wait to see if OTC pain relievers are working before trying different medicines?
• Will alternative therapies, such as acupuncture and massage, help relieve my teen’s headache symptoms?

Resources

American Migraine Foundation: Headaches in Kids: What Parents Can Do to Help

Mayo Clinic: Tension Headaches

Headache Hygiene – What is It?

Headache hygiene is the practice of taking care of yourself in a way that will reduce the likelihood, frequency, intensity, and severity of headaches. One may surely wonder if this is possible. Indeed it is! Many lifestyle factors influence migraine and other headache conditions. Therefore, taking care of these lifestyle factors may help reduce the risk of severe attacks.

These include two simple steps:

• Lifestyle changes
• Trigger avoidance

Lifestyle Changes

Migraine is not a predictable disorder for all people. Simple things like changes to a normal routine can lead to a severely disabling migraine attack. Understanding how lifestyle affects the severity and frequency of attacks can be a large part of successful migraine prevention.

It is unrealistic to expect anyone to completely change a certain lifestyle. However, certain things are relatively easy to do. For example:

• Maintain regular sleep patterns. Go to sleep and wake up at the same time each day.
• Exercise regularly. For example, aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes three times a week will help reduce frequency or severity of migraine.
• Eat regular meals, do not skip meals, and eat a good, healthy breakfast.
• Reduce stress. Limit stress by avoiding conflicts and resolving disputes calmly. Some people find it helpful to take a daily “stress break.”
• Avoiding known triggers (see table on Common Triggers).

Establishing daily routines that help reduce migraine attacks is important for long-term migraine prevention. For example:

• Schedule a relaxation period that includes relaxation strategies such as:
• Take slow, deep breaths.
• Focus the mind on a relaxing image or scene.
• Try soft relaxing lighting and sounds.
• Exercise on a regular basis, even if your daily routine changes (such as when traveling, when you have house guests, or when your workload increases).
• Maintain the medication treatment plan designed by you and your physician. Early intervention may help prevent the migraine from progressing into a severe, disabling attack.

Trigger avoidance

Triggers are specific factors that may increase your risk of having a migraine attack. The migraine sufferer has a sensitive nervous system that, under certain circumstances, can lead to migraine. Triggers do not “cause” migraine. Instead, they are thought to activate processes that cause migraine in people who are prone to the condition. A certain trigger will not induce a migraine in every person. In a single migraine sufferer, a trigger may not cause a migraine every time. By keeping a headache diary, you will be able to identify some triggers for your particular headaches. Once you have identified triggers, it will be easier for you to avoid them and reduce your chances of having a migraine attack.

Headache with high blood pressure

According to WHO statistics, every third person on Earth has high blood pressure. This unpleasant symptom can be either an independent disease (hypertension) or a consequence of another disease (arterial hypertension). Most often, older people complain of high blood pressure, but young people can also have high blood pressure. There can be many reasons:

• Unhealthy lifestyle, bad habits and unhealthy diet;
• Significant excess weight;
• Diseases of the urinary system;
• Stress;
• Lack of microelements;
• Vascular atherosclerosis;
• Taking certain medications;
• Etc. d.

Headache with increased pressure

Many people are accustomed to believe that high blood pressure is the cause of headache (cephalalgia). But this is just a myth. Most often, cephalalgia is caused by completely different causes, for example, vasospasm, prolonged psychological stress, stress, as well as some diseases: heart, neurological or vascular.

A headache can become a manifestation of increased pressure, if at the same time you feel that the head is squeezing, the discomfort intensifies when bending over, the pain is accompanied by nausea or the flashing of “flies” in front of the eyes.

In addition, it happens that a pressure jump provokes a cephalalgia of a neurological nature – in this case, pain is caused by damage to the trigeminal facial nerve. The pain is sharp, sharp, shooting.

If the pain has arisen sharply, accompanied by a feeling that blood has rushed to the face and neck, dry mouth, fever or cold sweat, numbness of the extremities – this may be a sign of a hypertensive crisis. Never ignore a sharp headache – it can be dangerous.Call emergency help urgently!

Treatment

Do not take pills on your own for headaches with high blood pressure! Even if you know for sure that a pressure surge is causing you a headache, there can be many mechanisms for its occurrence.

Usually, the doctor prescribes drugs from the group of analgesics, antispasmodics, calcium channel blockers, or selective beta-blockers. In some cases, diuretics are also recommended.With the withdrawal of the liquid, the pressure also decreases.

Preventive measures also deserve special attention.

Prevention of cephalalgia

Headache attacks, even with hypertension or hypertension, will bother you much less if you lead a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, there are only three basic rules:

1. Get enough sleep, but don’t sleep too long. Sleep deprivation as well as excess sleep can trigger headaches.
2. Adjust the power supply.Eliminate hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, deep-fried meats, instant foods, foods that are too salty or spicy, and reduce your consumption of soda and commercial sauces.
3. Keep calm!

Stress and nervous tension are one of the main causes of pressure surges and the occurrence of cephalalgia. Avoid stressful situations, try not to cheat yourself, do not drive anxious thoughts in your head.In some cases, a course of taking a sedative drug gives significant improvement.

First aid for headache

If possible, lie down, close your eyes and try to calm down. If there is no way to take a horizontal position, just sit with your eyes closed in silence.

Place a cloth or towel dipped in cold water on your forehead and temples. You can also add 1 to 2 drops of soothing essential oils to the water. But don’t overdo it! A couple of drops are quite enough – too strong a smell can provoke an increase in painful sensations.

Massage your temples and back of your head, open a window, get some fresh air, drink a soothing decaf tea, such as herbal tea.

If cephalalgia attacks recur regularly or you have noticed that they have become more frequent lately, call a neurologist or therapist. They can help you find the cause of your cephalalgia and help you overcome the pain.

You can call a doctor by phone: +7 (495) 730-21-31.

Headache? See a neurologist! doctor in Vladivostok

Mar 3, 2020

There is hardly a person who would never have a headache.

However, what if the headache persists? How can we get rid of this suffering?

Neurologist, cephalgologist, botulinum therapist at the MedExpert MC, specialist with 10 years of experience, Olesya Golovina, told VH about the methods of diagnosing and treating this disease.

– Olesya Sergeevna, tell us a little about yourself. What problems do patients come to see you with?

– In 2009 I graduated from Vladivostok State Medical University.Primary specialization – clinical internship in neurology at the University. acad. I.P. Pavlova, St. Petersburg.

I am a member of the Russian Interregional Society for the Study of Pain (ROIB).

Every year I attend major neurological congresses, master classes on the use of neuroprotein for medicinal purposes.

I am actively involved in the treatment of headaches (including migraines) and facial pain.

– What is migraine and what is the reason for its occurrence?

– Migraine – one of the most common forms of headache, refers to neurological diseases.One in seven adults suffers from migraine, so the disease is quite common. It manifests itself in seizures, which can occur with varying frequency – from 1-2 times a year to several times a month. The main manifestation of a migraine attack is a headache, which can be quite pronounced, pulsating, unilateral or bilateral localization. Other common manifestations include nausea and vomiting, light and sound intolerance. The cause of migraine is in the brain.Migraine pain is associated with abnormalities in structures that are responsible for carrying pain and other sensations. There is a hereditary predisposition to the development of migraine: that is, you can inherit it from one of the parents. Women have three times more migraines than men. It usually begins in childhood or adolescence. In girls, migraines usually start around puberty. The insidiousness of migraine is that it can become chronic. With chronic migraine, episodes of headache occur 8 days a month or more, conventional analgesics do not help, the nature of the pain changes, and overall health and quality of life deteriorate.

– What treatments for migraine are there?

– There are various forms of migraine: episodic, chronic, migraine with aura, etc. And the tactics of treatment depends on what kind of migraine a particular patient has. In case of an episodic form, it is enough to choose the right drug for relieving pain and give the patient recommendations on lifestyle, explain what factors can cause a headache episode. In order to reduce the intensity and frequency of chronic migraine episodes, long-term drug therapy and lifestyle modification are used.In the case when prolonged use of medications does not give the desired effect, there is an alternative method – a course of botulinum therapy. Currently, botulinum therapy is a modern, effective and safe method for treating migraines. Practicing botulinum therapy for over 30 years. During this time, millions of people around the world have received quality treatment.

It is safe to say that of all the drugs used for the treatment of head and facial pain, botulinum toxin preparations implement the main principle – “do no harm”.The course of procedures takes place 1 time in 3 months throughout the year, more often it is 3-4 procedures. For botulinum therapy, only original and certified drugs are used – Botox, Xeomin, Dysport. The mechanism of action of botulinum toxin consists in blocking the transmission of impulses from the nerve endings to the “target cell”, thus the cell does not receive a signal to perform any action, which is required to achieve a therapeutic effect. The botulinum therapy method has a good safety profile, an international treatment regimen has been developed, which is used worldwide in patients with migraine.

– Can symptoms of other diseases be masked behind a headache?

– Quite often, patients come with a complaint of pain in the face area. And often patients confuse these unpleasant sensations with a headache. Facial pain (pain in the face area) can be the result of damage to the branches of the trigeminal nerve – burning paroxysmal pain worries, which can worsen when chewing, opening the mouth, brushing teeth. In other cases, the cause of pain may be inflammation in the area of ​​the tooth.A growing tumor can compress the nerve. Sometimes pain syndrome develops against the background of herpetic lesions, ENT pathology – an inflammatory process of the paranasal sinuses (sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, etc.). Also, patients often come to me from dentists when the dental causes of pain are excluded. Meanwhile, they do not have ENT pathology, and the neurologist ruled out neuralgia of the branches of the trigeminal nerve. In this case, one of the most common causes of pain in the face area is pathological painful hypertonicity of the masticatory muscles, often combined with hypertonicity of the temporal muscles.In this category of patients, headaches of the “tension headache” type are quite often manifested, they experience discomfort with prolonged chewing, and especially when chewing solid food, since the opening of the mouth is limited. There may be a combination with depression, anxiety. Against the background of hypertonicity of the masticatory muscles, there may be a night grinding of teeth – bruxism.

– In what cases is the consultation of related specialists required? And what research methods are needed to identify the true cause of the disease?

– In the presence of pain in the facial area, consultations of a dentist (in order to exclude caries, periodontitis, cysts on the roots), an otorhinolaryngologist (to exclude inflammation in the area of ​​the paranasal sinuses, rhinitis), a neurologist.For diagnostics, a panoramic image of the upper and lower jaws, radiography or computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses are used. To exclude the tumor nature of the pain syndrome, CT or MRI of the brain is prescribed. All these diagnostic methods are presented in the MedExpert clinic. You can take them at any time convenient for the patients.

– What is the most important thing for you in your work?

– The priority task for me is to do my job efficiently and professionally, to treat patients, taking into account the individual characteristics of each.I am constantly learning and improving my knowledge, attending practical master classes in order to provide qualified medical care to people. In my practice I use only modern and proven methods of treatment. There are no unsolvable situations. The most important thing is to get an appointment with a competent doctor on time.

DEAR PATIENTS!

The goal of working with you is your well-being, the joy of living without pain and depression, and improving the quality of your life! Therefore, if you are focused on the result and want to breathe deeply, then I will be glad to help you with this and will make every effort to justify your trust!

Spheres of my competence:

• Treatment and prevention of headache, migraine
• Facial pain
• Pain syndromes in the spine
• Tunnel syndromes, polyneuropathies
• Dizziness

and sleep disorders

• Dizziness

and sleep disorders

• Decreased memory
• Dementia
• Bruxism
• Blepharospasm
• Facial hemispasm
• Dystonic syndromes
• Spasticity
• Increased sweating in all areas

-6 relieving pain syndromes, restoring facial symmetry

• PRP-therapy method

Best regards, your neurologist Olesya Sergeevna Golovina.

Published by itb in the Articles section

What is migraine? | Allegro

Migraine is one of the most common types of primary headaches. The term “primary pain” means that it is an independent disease, and it is associated with impaired brain function.

A migraine attack can last from 4 hours to 3 days. The pain can be so unbearable that a person is unable to do either work or everyday activities – any activity increases suffering.

Attacks are often caused by some kind of provoking factors (triggers). 90% of people with migraine know at least one such “provocateur” of their own migraine. Most often it is physical or emotional stress (77%) and fluctuations in hormonal levels associated with the menstrual cycle in women (72%). Taking oral contraceptives can cause seizures. Occasionally, seizures cause head or neck injuries.

External factors should be singled out as a separate category of migraine provocateurs:

• loud sounds and bright lights;
• substances with a pungent odor: perfumes, paints, household chemicals, etc.;
• Excessive consumption of products containing caffeine;
• unhealthy diet and missing main meals;
• mismatch of the daily rhythm of a person with the natural daily rhythm, frequent change of the time zone during air travel (jet lag).

How do you know if you have a migraine?

The symptoms of migraine are easy to describe. A typical migraine headache is unilateral, often in the frontotemporal region of the head, intense, pulsating, aggravated by a change in body position, physical exertion.The pain is accompanied by increased sensitivity to bright light and loud sounds. At the height of pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, or, conversely, chills may appear.

However, some attacks can be mild in intensity, involve the entire head, or sometimes occur without pain at all in the form of a migraine aura.

What is a migraine aura?

These are specific neurological disorders that precede a migraine attack. Aura describes about a quarter of people with migraines.

• Visual disturbances are the most typical manifestations of the aura. These can be visual “special effects” when rainbow spots, stripes, luminous zigzags flash before the patient’s eyes, or areas of the visual fields fall out.
• Possible tingling and numbness auras in the hands and face.
• Less commonly, patients are faced with impaired hearing, smell, taste and coordination.

These sensations may vary in brightness, but they always subside within a few minutes or an hour.

What is a menstrual migraine?

In women, migraines are often associated with the menstrual cycle. Such attacks occur two days before the onset of menstruation or within three days after the onset of at least two out of three cycles. So menstrual migraine is described in the III International classification of headaches. With a “clean” menstrual migraine, attacks occur at the beginning of menstruation, and no more on any other days of the cycle. With menstrual-associated migraine, attacks can occur on any day of the cycle.

What is the cause of migraine?

Migraines have long been thought to be related to the vessels that feed the brain and other structures in the head. It was believed that the aura arises from spasm of the arteries in the brain, and the throbbing pain is caused by compensatory vasodilation.

It is now known for sure that migraine is based on increased excitability of nerve cells in the brain (neurons). It is not known exactly how it arises, but heredity plays a significant role here.If both parents suffer from migraines, then it is very likely that the child will also have the disease. With an attack of pain, excitement from the affected brain cells spreads to neighboring neurons, then pathological pain impulses spread to large areas of the brain, including those responsible for pain. Thus, an attack of pain occurs. The hyperexcitability of neurons can be influenced by various provoking factors: certain foods (some types of cheeses, wines, coffee), physical and emotional stress, disturbed sleep and wakefulness or insufficient sleep, changes in hormonal levels during the menstrual cycle in women.

Prevention and treatment of migraine

Migraine, like any other primary headache, cannot be completely cured once and for all. Nevertheless, doctors can effectively relieve a patient from severe seizures, significantly weaken them, and make them more rare .

Treatment and prevention of migraine attacks are aimed at reducing the excitability of neurons.

The doctor prescribes treatment based on the frequency, intensity and duration of the pain.This can be taking painkillers and other symptomatic drugs. Relief (interruption) of a migraine attack is considered effective if the headache has gone away or significantly decreased within two hours after taking the drug and did not return within the next 24 hours. The effectiveness of drugs for the relief of a migraine attack is compared precisely for this indicator.

What medications are used to treat migraines?

Triptans – a group of medicines specially designed to relieve migraine attacks.Currently, three triptans are available in Russia – sumatriptan, eletriptan and zolmitriptan. Triptans are prescription drugs that are selected by a doctor taking into account concomitant diseases, contraindications, and a person’s lifestyle.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Before there were specific migraine drugs – triptans – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were the main means of relieving an attack.The most commonly used drugs from this group are: ibuprofen, naproxen, indomethacin, diclofenac, aspirin. In Russia, analgin (metamizole) was often used for migraines, which is prohibited for sale in most countries of the world because of its side effects.

Treatment of a migraine attack with combined pain relievers.

Combined pain relievers (analgesics) – drugs that contain two or more active substances in a tablet or capsule. However, now they are rarely recommended because of the risk of developing an abusal headache.

Abuse headache is a complication of excessive intake of painkillers.

Overuse of pain relievers can itself cause headaches. This diagnosis is made when a person has been taking regular pain relievers for 15 or more days a month for the past three months. And if we are talking about combined painkillers (drugs such as spazmalgon or citramone), then it is enough to take them only 10 days a month for three months to get an abusal headache.

To get rid of an abusal headache, it is necessary to give up the uncontrolled intake of all painkillers.

Another method of treatment is behavioral psychotherapy. The idea is that a person’s feelings, thoughts and actions directly affect the state. Stress can trigger an attack. The goal of therapy is to change a person’s behavior model, to teach him to adequately respond to stress.

How to relieve an attack yourself?

A migraine attack can be predicted and prevented by taking the medication prescribed by your doctor on time.If there is a feeling of an imminent attack, you need to quickly eliminate annoying factors: turn off the TV, telephone and other sound sources, close the curtains tightly, provide fresh air and go to bed. A massage of the temporal zone with essential oils and soothing herbal teas helps to relieve suffering.

According to the international standard, the diagnosis of migraine, like most types of headache, is made following a consultation with a neurologist; no additional research is required.That is, the diagnosis of headache in most cases is made only on the basis of the story of the patient himself and the examination of the doctor.

What can you, as a patient, do to make your visit to the specialist most effective? Describe in detail the history of your headaches. It is recommended to keep a diary of seizures – to record their date, time of onset and duration. This tactic helps the doctor understand what triggered the pain and choose the right treatment.

Migraine is difficult to heal completely, but it can be controlled.If the patient wants to live fully and actively participates in treatment, he has every chance to achieve an improvement in his condition and an increase in the quality of life.

You can consult with a specialist and make an appointment by phone or via the online form on the website of our clinic.

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90,000 why and what to do, advice from a neurologist

If you are concerned about a morning headache, this symptom cannot be ignored, as it can be a trigger for serious health problems.Why does the head hurt in the morning and what to do about it? Today we will look at the main reasons why you may have a headache and will try to figure out how to get rid of this problem.

“When a person complains of a headache, the doctor’s task is to determine the patient’s health, whether there are any disorders in the body. A signal that a morning headache is a sign of a serious illness is weakness in the arms, the presence of vomiting and nausea, fever, or a change in gait.If you have a headache in the morning and there are no accompanying symptoms, most likely you just need to adjust your daily routine to go to bed and get up at the same time, and also walk more often in the fresh air “ – Doctor – neuropathologist of the highest category, associate professor of the Department of Neurology, N.N. AA Bogomolets, candidate of medical sciences – Vladimir Melnik.

Main causes of morning headache

Headache is one of the most common symptoms in the world, and if it does not arise as a separate disease, then it always becomes a harbinger of some kind of disturbance in the body.The exception is cases when pain in the head in the morning occurs against the background of drinking alcohol-containing drinks the day before, which is a normal reaction of the body to intoxication. However, if you did not drink alcohol and slept enough, but still feel a headache, this may indicate the presence of some diseases or that something is wrong with your sleeping place.

Cause of morning headache No. 1

“Too little or too much sleep”

The body needs seven to eight hours of sleep to recover.If it becomes much less, it goes into a safe mode and begins to produce hormones – cortisol and norepinephrine. Pulse and blood pressure rise, and headaches are often associated with this. American scientists examined 1,480 people complaining of frequent headaches. In 50 percent of patients, migraines were caused by sleep disturbances. In addition, all people who regularly slept for only 6 hours experienced severe headaches.

After a poor night’s sleep, it is best to walk more during the day and sleep for 20-30 minutes (longer sleep is not recommended, since your body will not be in its natural biological rhythm, problems with falling asleep may begin, and the subsequent situation with insomnia and headaches pain will repeat).The opposite situation is too long sleep, which, in turn, is also bad.

“ Serotonin levels drop during sleep, which lasts more than nine hours, and this reduces blood flow to the brain and often causes headaches. ” – Dr. Salvatore from the New England Neurological Center, USA.

Consultants of orthopedic salons Medtekhnika Ortosalon in Dnipro, Kiev, Kharkov, Zaporozhye, Vinnitsa and other cities of Ukraine, will be able to help you in more detail in solving headache problems, and will be able to advise on suitable orthopedic products.

Cause of morning headache No. 2

“Lack of hormones of joy”

The hormones of joy, or hormones of happiness, which are so often found in colloquial speech, are called endorphins. This is a special type of hormones in the human body that are responsible for the normal psychoemotional balance of the nervous system. According to research, endorphins show their lowest values ​​in the morning, and in some people this provokes migraines. Low endorphins affect the levels of other neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, which causes the blood vessels in the brain to constrict.This narrowing reduces blood flow to the organ, which can trigger headaches in some patients, ”explains Dr. Mark Horsandy of the Dallas Migraine Center. To correct this picture, morning exercises will help, which will equip the body with a burst of endorphins.

Cause of morning headache No. 3

“Bruxism”

Some people are faced with such a problem of neurological etiology as “bruxism”. Bruxism is teeth grinding, according to Wikipedia.Such a pathology can occur in a person at night and negatively affect the health of the teeth and temporomandibular joints. Bruxism can occur against the background of chronic stress, mental stress, or be formed as a result of disturbances in the functioning of the central and peripheral systems.

Bruxism affects about forty percent of the population of our country, and this is a very impressive figure. It is bruxism that can become one of the likely causes of morning headaches. Symptoms of bruxism are:

• Morning headache;
• Toothache;
• Morning discomfort in the ears and neck.

If you suspect bruxism, you should consult a neurologist or dentist. In dental practice, special splints are used that protect the teeth from pressure and eliminate reflex jaw clamps.

Interesting fact! An incorrect bite can also cause morning headaches. The pain in this case is localized around the cheeks and occurs as a result of overloading the temporomandibular joints.To fix this problem – contact your treating dentist.

Cause of morning headache No. 4

“Anesthetic drug abuse”

Morning headaches can occur if you are taking pain medications. These include acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol and psychotropic drugs.

“ Analgesic abuse is an important risk factor that increases the incidence of headaches; taking these drugs can also turn episodic pain (less than 15 times a month) into chronic pain (more than 15 episodes of headache per month for at least 3 months), ”, according to researchers at the International Association for the Study of Pain.

This is why pain relievers should be used strictly in dosage quantities and only as directed by a physician.

Cause of morning headache No. 5

“Hypertension”

A huge number of Ukrainians suffer from hypertension, and this disease affects all age categories. Hypertension affects not only the elderly and overweight people, but also young people of normal body weight. Usually they do not know about their illness, because hypertension, especially in the early stages of the disease, does not always manifest itself.Morning headache in this case can be the first signal of hypertension, especially if it appears in the back of the head and is accompanied by tinnitus. Doctors attribute this process to narrowing of blood vessels and increased blood pressure.

Cause of morning headache No. 6

“Hormonal changes”

Migraine, which occurs in the morning (almost half of the attacks occur between 4 and 9 am), affects women three times more often than men.This is due to changes in the level of female sex hormones.

Headaches also appear in 30 percent of patients with hypothyroidism (thyroid hormone deficiency), however, quickly disappear after hormonal treatment. Headache associated with hypothyroidism is usually continuous, bilateral, throbbing, or non-throbbing.

Cause of morning headache No. 7

“Problems with the sinuses”

Sore sinuses can cause headaches, especially in the morning.The mucus that remains in the sinuses is a substrate for microbes. When the sinus mucosa becomes inflamed, the swelling causes pressure on the nerve endings, causing pain. Diagnosing this problem is quite simple – the pain intensifies when the head is tilted and disappears after washing and cleaning the sinuses.

Cause of morning headache No. 8

Sleep apnea

Apnea is a pause in breathing during sleep that can last more than ten seconds and cause headaches in the morning.In addition to headaches, when you wake up, you will feel weak and irritable, and during the day you will have problems concentrating. The problem with this condition is that you may experience sleep apnea and not even be aware of it if you are not sleeping with a partner who can see it. Snoring is common in obstructive sleep apnea.

Cause of morning headache No. 9

“Dehydration”

Even a slight lack of water in the body can disrupt well-being.If during the day you do not drink enough water, then after the night the body will suffer greatly. How does poor hydration cause headaches? There is a theory that the loss of water by the body provokes tension in the blood vessels in the head, the blood is not sufficiently oxygenated, which activates pain in the head. Remember to drink at least 2-2.5 liters of water throughout the day.

Cause of morning headache No. 10

“Incorrectly organized sleeping place”

If you sleep on an ordinary pillow, it is not surprising that you experience a headache in the morning.Pillows are usually made from materials that do not have optimal rigidity and do not correspond to the anatomical structure of our body. Due to the incorrect height and stiffness of the pillow, the cervical and thoracic spine is deformed, normal blood circulation is blocked, a sufficient amount of blood and oxygen ceases to flow to the brain, which provokes the formation of spasms in the head. What to do in this case? Neuropathologists advise using only orthopedic pillows for sleep.

Orthopedic pillow, which you can buy directly on the website of our online store, has a number of advantages over a regular pillow.Its shape corresponds to the anatomical structure of our body, therefore, during sleep, the cervical spine will not deform. You will get rid of not only headaches, but also pain in the neck, back, and in general you will start to feel much more invigorated.

You can buy an orthopedic pillow in the Medtekhnika Ortosalon chain of stores. We have a wide range of orthopedic products. We work with the world’s leading manufacturers, therefore we guarantee the quality of the products we provide.

90,000 Main types and causes of headache

Nowadays, you rarely meet a person who is not familiar with one or another manifestations of headache. It has many varieties, and each informs you about a malfunction in the body, therefore neurologists say that you cannot endure a headache or constantly use painkillers. Any pain, including headache, is based on a disease.

Headache is a symptom, in other words, an alarm signal, which is why an experienced doctor at the Semeynaya clinic will recommend not to eliminate the headache pointwise, but to undergo an examination and find the cause of the headache, and therefore the disease itself.Modern medicine has learned how to effectively deal with almost all types of headaches. Most often, patients complain about:

• tension pain in the temples,
• many are familiar with the pain of high blood pressure,
• holders of osteochondrosis know how the neck and head hurt during exacerbation of this disease,
• migraines often plague both the young and the elderly.

In all cases, not knowing the nature of the onset of pain, and using the wrong drugs, you can only aggravate it and worsen the situation with the underlying disease causing the headache.When visiting a doctor complaining of a headache, he will definitely ask you to describe the pain in detail: “Where and how does the head hurt?” Let’s try to figure out the main types and causes of headaches.

Tension headache

Feeling of spreading, dull, monotonous pain that starts from the back of the head and neck, flows smoothly to the front of the head, to the temples, maybe from one or both sides. In rare cases, it is accompanied by dizziness or nausea, reminiscent of tightening the head with a tight cap or ribbon.

What is the danger of not paying attention to such a headache?

This kind of tension headache indicates a strong tension in the muscles of the scalp and neck and appears as a result of severe mental stress or deep nervous exhaustion. People who experience such a headache usually do not seek help from doctors, but the frequent use of painkillers can in this case lead to an increase in pain sensitivity and an increase in the occurrence of pain.

How is a tension headache treated?

This type of pain has long been known to doctors and can be successfully treated. After establishing the diagnosis, the doctor, depending on the severity and neglect of the disease, may prescribe the use of NSAIDs, muscle relaxants according to indications, vitamin preparations, a course of exercise therapy or some type of reflexology may be needed. You may need to consult a psychotherapist to get rid of depression, the doctor will conduct psychoanalysis, work out internal and external conflicts, or prescribe medication.Having carried out a set of therapeutic measures, you can get rid of diseases that cause headache.

Cervical osteochondrosis and headache

Headache due to cervical osteochondrosis, is characterized as severe pain starting from the back of the head in the neck, often accompanied by nausea and dizziness. It is provoked by a sharp movement of the neck, colds, air conditioners in the summer, improper position of the head and body during sleep. There is muscle tension, spasm, which, in turn, increases pain – the so-called “vicious circle of pain.”

If osteochondrosis is not treated

With systematic pain caused by cervical osteochondrosis, symptoms of vascular insufficiency, hearing loss, vision loss, and tinnitus may appear. Due to frequent exacerbations, the patient develops mental discomfort, anxiety, depression, sleep may be disturbed and psychogenic sexual disorders appear.

Treatment of headache in osteochondrosis

Violation of cerebral blood flow in osteochondrosis is restored with the help of specially selected drug therapy.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants are prescribed. In parallel, physiotherapy, manual therapy and other methods of reflexology are used.

Blood pressure and headache

A decrease or increase in blood pressure relative to the norm is almost always accompanied by headaches of varying intensity in the forehead, temples or occiput. Blood pressure surges can be triggered by stress, overwork, or weather changes.Sharp changes in blood pressure and the accompanying headache are symptoms of many diseases, so you should not neglect the headache and suppress it with anesthetic drugs without the appointment of specialists. The causes of the appearance of diseases associated with pressure, can be disturbances in the functioning of the heart, thyroid gland, kidneys, adrenal glands. As a consequence, neglecting these conditions can lead to loss of consciousness, an increased risk of falls and therefore injury, and the possibility of stroke.

Treatment of headache with changes in pressure

Increase or decrease in blood pressure – serious diseases that require long-term observation and treatment. After establishing the underlying cause of the disease, the doctor prescribes a course of treatment, which consists of individually selected drug therapy. When selecting medications, the doctor will study the patient’s entire medical history and take into account other diseases, if any, as well as the nature of the pressure deviations.Only after that will the drugs be prescribed. An experienced specialist, when prescribing a course of treatment, will instruct you on how to correctly relieve severe pain and hypertensive crises before the arrival of an ambulance.

Increased intracranial pressure and headache

Headache with increased intracranial pressure is described as monotonous, dull, pressing on the entire head. Often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, pain around the eyes. This type of headache often appears and intensifies immediately after waking up, irritants can be bright light and loud sounds, a sharp change in weather, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, salty and fatty foods, as well as overeating before bedtime, unexpected physical activity, fatigue.

How intracranial pressure increases

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which fills the internal and external cavities of the brain, protects the brain from mechanical stress and affects metabolic processes, constantly circulates between parts of the brain. In the case of insufficient absorption or increased fluid release, there is a violation of the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, which leads to an increase in intracranial pressure, and it manifests itself in severe headaches.The causes may be craniocerebral trauma, inflammatory diseases, anomalies in the structure of the cerebrospinal fluid pathways, as well as cervical vertebrae. Increased intracranial pressure for a long time leads to a deterioration in the functioning of the brain and autonomic nervous system. Manifestations can be in the form of hearing loss, vision, memory and attention, mental disorders in the form of depression and sleep disturbances.

Treatment of headaches with increased intracranial pressure

In the treatment of headaches, venotonic drugs, special gymnastics and manual therapy are successfully used to improve venous outflow from the skull and reduce intracranial pressure.

What is migraine

To migraines are often referred to as one-sided, episodic, throbbing pain, it can be provoked by bright light, loud sounds, overwork, vasodilators, taking certain foods, such as chocolate, spices, some types of cheese, smoked meats and some types of wines. The causes of this type of headache are not fully understood, but it is based on irritation of the peripheral nervous system in the head and neck region, after which there is a sharp narrowing of one of the cerebral arteries, and then a sharp expansion, at this moment pulsating pain occurs.Statistics show that women are much more likely to suffer from migraines. By the way, frequent seizures lead to depression.

Migraine treatment

With the exact setting of causes of migraine, patients can be sent for treatment to different specialists. It is important to correctly establish the cause of the migraine, because if the inflammation has arisen in the nasal cavity and throat, then an otolaryngologist will come to the rescue, if cervical osteochondrosis has become the cause, then most likely the help of a chiropractor and an exercise therapy doctor is needed.The attending physician will advise on the correct diet and methods for eliminating acute pain in the event of a migraine attack.

In this article, we have covered only a few of the most common types of headaches , but in fact, a headache can signal many other diseases, so if headaches become more frequent, consult a neurologist or at least a therapist at the Family clinic in Ryazan for the initial diagnosis and treatment initiation.

Five ways to get rid of headaches without drugs (PHOTOS)

YEREVAN, September 8.News-Armenia. Headaches are a very common problem. From time to time, everyone suffers from headaches. This can cause unbearable pain as well as nausea and sometimes vomiting.

Common causes of headaches are stress, tension, anxiety, sinus problems, migraines, lack of sleep and dehydration.

Many people use over the counter medication to relieve headaches. However, you can get instant pain relief with simple and natural home remedies.

For example, pressing the webbed area between your thumb and forefinger gently for about a minute can help relieve your headache.

Here are 5 of the best ways to get rid of your headache quickly.

1. Water

If dehydration is the cause of your headache, you can easily relieve the pain by rehydrating your body.

Just drink a glass of water at the first sign of a headache and continue taking small sips throughout the day.

Along with water, you can play sports. The electrolytes present in sports drinks can treat tension headaches and dehydration.

When you have a headache, stay away from drinks such as alcohol, which can dehydrate your body.

2. Ice pack

Placing a cold compress, such as an ice pack on the forehead, will relieve pain, help shrink blood vessels and improve circulation in this area.This particular remedy is well suited for headaches due to stress or sinuses.

Wrap pieces of ice or crushed ice in a thin towel. Apply to your forehead for a few minutes. A bag of frozen vegetables can also serve as a “glacier”. Never apply ice directly to the skin, as this can damage the skin.

Alternatively, apply a cold cloth to your head and temples for 10 minutes and repeat the process for a while until you get relief.

3. Hot water

Applying heat to the back of the neck can relieve stress-related headaches. The heat relaxes tense muscles, thus relieving the throbbing pain.

Simply apply a bag of hot water to the back of your head or take a hot shower while directing water to the back of your head.

Another option is to fill the tub with hot water and put your hands in it for 10-15 minutes. This will improve blood circulation and thus relieve headaches.

If you suffer from chronic headaches, you can dip your feet in a basin filled with hot water for 10 minutes before bed.

4. Lemon

Lemon is a very effective and powerful ingredient in the treatment of headaches because it refreshes and relaxes. In addition, it helps maintain the acid-base balance in the body.

Drinking warm water mixed with juice squeezed from half a lemon will reduce the intensity of the headache.This particular remedy is useful for headaches caused by gas in the stomach.

5. Apple

Both apples and apple cider vinegar can be used to combat headaches. They help restore the acid-base balance in the body. Plus, just the scent of green apples can help relieve migraine headaches.

When you wake up in the morning with a headache, eat a slice of apple sprinkled with salt. Then drink warm water.

Alternatively, fill a large bowl with hot water and add 3 to 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to it.Cover a towel over your head and breathe in pairs for 10-15 minutes.

Another option is to add 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water. You can also add some honey and lemon juice. Drink this 2 or 3 times a day. -0-

Headache in women: causes of frequent headaches in women

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Last update date: 08/26/2021

Average Read Time: 5 minutes

Content

Headache during menstruation
Headache in a pregnant woman
Headache while taking oral contraceptives
What to do with menstrual headache
Motrin® for headache

Experts believe that women experience headaches more often than men.Moreover, her attacks are longer and much more severe. The reasons for this difference are not completely clear, however, scientists have put forward the assumption that in most cases the change in the concentration of sex hormones (in particular estrogen) is to blame. That is why frequent headaches in women often appear during reproductive age, especially during ovulation and menstruation.

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Headache during menstruation

A fairly large number of women suffer from headaches during menstruation.This condition is called menstrual cephalalgia. The sensations experienced by a woman during this period are of varying intensity: from a completely tolerable and unstable feeling of pressure inside the head to severe migraines that can temporarily deprive them of working capacity. Often, headaches are accompanied by nausea, changes in the perception of smell and taste, increased sensitivity to sounds, mood instability and sleep disturbances.

Menstrual pain may bother 2 days before menstruation and 3 days after.They usually do not pose a health hazard, however, if you have recurring cephalalgic episodes, you should see your doctor. The reason for this condition is a sharp change in hormonal levels during the menstrual cycle, which is especially typical for women suffering from disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary system, which regulates the production of hormones. The main causes of headache during menstruation include the following:

• a sharp drop in the level of the hormone progesterone;
• change in water-salt balance;
• menstrual change in prostaglandin levels;
• chronic iron deficiency anemia, which is often noted in women with heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding.

Eating disorders with an excess of carbohydrates and saturated fats in the diet, excessive consumption of strong coffee, predispose to the appearance of a headache during menstruation. Cervical osteochondrosis, bleeding disorders, previous head and neck injuries also increase the likelihood of menstrual cephalalgia.

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Headache in a pregnant woman

Causes of headaches in women during pregnancy and lactation can be different.In some cases, they are associated with a change in hormonal levels, in others – with an exacerbation of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Only a specialist can understand the true causes of a pathological condition. The complexity of this situation lies in the fact that during such a period, the choice of drugs for headache is very limited. Therefore, only a doctor can prescribe the drug.

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Headache while taking oral contraceptives

The reason for frequent headaches in women of childbearing age may be the regular use of birth control pills, or rather, the synthetic hormone they contain.Unpleasant sensations can bother a woman while the body is getting used to the drug. This is about three months, however, if the side effects are severe and significantly reduce the quality of life, you should consult a doctor so that he can choose another remedy.

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What to do with a menstrual headache

Seek medical attention if symptoms are severe . Frequent and severe headache during menstruation should be the reason for going to the doctor, regardless of the woman’s age.Consultation with a specialist is also required when the nature and duration of pain changes, new symptoms join, discomfort persists during the next cycle, and the rhythm of menstruation is disturbed.

Lead a healthy lifestyle . Women prone to headaches are recommended evening walks, adherence to the daily regimen, sufficient night sleep and physical activity. Don’t forget to drink enough fluids. It is advisable to limit foods that are difficult to digest and contribute to fluid retention in the diet, reduce the number of meals with “fast” (readily available) carbohydrates.It is recommended to minimize or eliminate the use of alcohol, try to give up bad habits. On the recommendation of a doctor, you can go for a medical massage of the back, neck, head.

Take the medication recommended by your doctor . To relieve headaches, antispasmodics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often used. With concomitant hypertension, antihypertensive drugs are indicated, and with anemia, a therapeutic diet and iron-containing drugs are usually prescribed.With migraine, the doctor prescribes the correct therapy: anti-migraine drugs, triptans. Medication should be taken only with the permission of a doctor.

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Motrin® for headache

Motrin® is a complex drug that helps relieve headaches for twelve hours. This product has a high safety profile and is approved for dispensing in pharmacies without a prescription. ¹ To achieve the best effect and observe the correct dosage, before using it, you should read the instructions and consult a doctor.

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The information in this article is for guidance only and does not replace the professional advice of a physician.